The aim of Sarco is to allow a rational adult the option of a peaceful, elective and lawful death in an elegant and stylish environment.

The Sarco uses liquid nitrogen to rapidly lower the oxygen level within the capsule (like the depressurization of a plane).

The Sarco capsule is detachable and can be used as a coffin for burial or cremation. The mechanism within the base is infinitely reusable.

‘The invitation to exhibit in Venice came quite unexpectedly’ said Dr Nitschke today. ‘It takes a courageous curator to be prepared to exhibit an object which has such a serious real life use’.

‘When a wooden mock-up of Sarco was displayed at the Amsterdam Funeral Fair in March 2018, the elders of Amsterdam’s famous Westerkerk convened an emergency board meeting. It was touch and go about whether the wooden Sarco would even be allowed in the church doors.

‘Now we have Sarco in the country that is home to the Pope. Given it is the church that is the main obstacle to assisted dying for the elderly and seriously ill becoming uniform throughout the world, this is no mean feat. I am extremely pleased that Sarco is here in Venice’.

‘This year’s Bienanale’s tagline of “May you live in interesting times” could not be more perfect’ he said.